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Reading comprehension is one of the question types in the GMAT Verbal Reasoning section. It tests your skills in understanding the words and statements from a given passage and asks you to answer the related questions. Reading Comprehension questions assess your understanding of logical relationships between important points, draw inferences, and follow the development of concepts. Your reading skills will be scored based on the main idea, supporting idea, application of ideas, logical structure, and style.
GMAT reading comprehension passages cover 3 topics: business, history, and science. You can expect 2 to 4 passages of 400 words each. In the GMAT Verbal Reasoning section, the passages will be followed by 4 questions. Since it is a computer-adaptive test, only 1 question will be visible on the screen. However, the GMAT reading comprehension will be there on the screen until you have answered all the questions.
The RC questions make up to 60% of the verbal reasoning section. A total of 23 questions are given in the verbal section, out of which 13 or 14 will be GMAT comprehension questions and the rest 9 or 10 will be GMAT critical reasoning questions. Short RC passages are made of 2 to 3 paragraphs with 250 or fewer words. Longer passages are given in 4 to 5 lines, with more than 300 words. Short passages are accompanied by 2 questions, and long passages are followed by 4 questions. There are 4 common types of questions that are given in reading passages: factual, inference, main idea, and the tone of the passage.
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GMAT Reading Comprehension Overview
Reading Comprehension passages only seem difficult when students encounter unfamiliar words. It can be a real blow to confidence, making them question whether they can complete the task at hand. Practice can help candidates learn some of the jargon associated with weaker areas. Candidates can also go through the GMAT Syllabus to help them understand the exam better. Candidates can actively prepare with the help of GMAT Reading Comprehension Practice Questions. Reading Comprehension passage would require you to do the following:
- Understanding the words and statements
- Identify the relationships between ideas and concepts logically
- Drawing inferences
- Pointing out flaws in assumptions and reasoning
- Understanding the concepts of quant and following them in writing
Reading Comprehension Question Types
GMAT Comprehension questions require candidates to understand the given passage and encounter certain questions. The questions are of the following types, which candidates would find while attempting this section:
- Main Idea
- Supporting ideas and details
- Inferences
- Out-of-Context
- Logical structure and organization
- Style and tone
GMAT Reading Comprehension Strategies
The reading comprehension questions on the GMAT are designed to understand, analyze, and apply information and concepts presented in written form. Candidates can follow the below GMAT reading comprehension tips:
- Understand words and statements provided - You need to summarize the given passage or evaluate the overall purpose in the given passage. Your response is analyzed in terms of recognizing whether you are able to identify the central theme or idea of the passage without getting into details of the subject.
- Identify logical relationships between ideas and concepts - GMAT Reading Comprehension questions focus on your ability to identify and understand the explicit ideas and details within the passage. These questions assess how well you grasp the facts and statements presented, requiring careful attention to the passage's content.
- Draw inferences from the passage - GMAT Reading Comprehension questions based on inference require you to draw conclusions that are implied, but not directly stated, in the passage. These questions don't ask for explicit information but rather for what can be inferred from the content. To answer these questions effectively, you need to practice deriving inferences from the passage. Fortunately, there are free GMAT Reading Comprehension PDFs available online that you can use to practice and improve your skills.
- Point out flaws in assumption and reasoning - Out-of-context GMAT Reading Comprehension questions ask you to apply information from the passage to a different context. These questions often require you to identify a parallel situation or find an analogous example. In these cases, you'll need to recognize relationships between ideas in the passage and apply them to scenarios or information not explicitly mentioned in the text.
The following examples of the GMAT reading comprehension question could be found in the exam:
- The author of the passage would be most likely to agree with which of the following statements about…
- The author of the passage would be most likely to disagree with which of the following statements about…
- The relationship between…is most similar to which of the following?
- GMAT RC Logical structure and organization - GMAT Reading Comprehension passages include questions based on the logical structure. Candidates need to analyze the function and purpose of the key elements. These are based on evaluating the purpose of the information given in the passage based on a sentence, a term or a paragraph. The questions which are included in the GMAT RC passage for logical structure type of questions are the following:
- The purpose of the last paragraph of the passage is to
- Which of the following best describes the purpose of the highlighted sentence?
- Which of the following, if true, would most clearly undermine…
- GMAT Reading Comprehension Style and tone - GMAT Passage includes style questions which require candidates to choose an answer which best suits the author’s opinion from the passage. Candidates need to identify the tone of the author in the passage and accordingly, determine the correct choice of answers. This implies the ability of the candidate to decode the attitude or emotions of the author in the passage.
Best Books for GMAT Reading Comprehension
GMAT Reading Comprehension books are considered the best study material for GMAT RC strategy. The following are the best GMAT preparation books for practicing different GMAT passages. These books contains GMAT reading comprehension passages with answers, RC strategy GMAT, and more.
There are several books containing GMAT Reading Comprehension questions that the candidates can use like:
- Manhattan Reading Comprehension GMAT
- Reading Comprehension GMAT Preparation Guide Manhattan Prep
- Aristotle GMAT Reading Comprehension
- GMAT Official Guide 2021 – Check PDF
- Manhattan Prep GMAT – All the Verbal – Check PDF
- Kaplan GMAT Prep Plus – Check PDF
- McGraw Hill’s GMAT Practice Test – Check PDF
Approach to GMAT Reading Comprehension Questions
Considering that there are several types of RC questions GMAT which candidates need to answer for which it is important for them to follow effective strategies. Effectively, approaching the GMAT RC passage should include active planning and certain strategies which could be undertaken by the candidates for attempting this section. GMAT Reading Comprehension strategies would help students to enhance their GMAT Preparation. The following GMAT RC strategy can be considered effectively by the candidates:
- GMAT Reading Comprehension practise: Considering that GMAT RC passages in which candidates require a bit longer time. Accordingly, candidates need to ensure that they are able to undertake active practice for their GMAT Reading Comprehension
- Watch for transition Words and Phrases: candidates can consider focusing on the transition words including cause and effect, agreeing upon the same argument, adding evidence, contrast or opposition, conclusion.
- Abbreviate jargon: it is important that candidates are able to abbreviate jargon and make a mental map of their technical term.
- Make a Mental Summary: While reading the passages it is important to make a mental summary. Candidates must consider the important points in GMAT RC questions notice the key ideas and find relationships and concepts.
Read More Reading Comprehension Passage Samples
- Modern Archaeological Finds can Still Contribute Much to the Study of Ancient Literature GMAT Reading Comprehension
- It is Almost a Year Since Abiy Ahmed the Prime Minister of Ethiopia GMAT Reading Comprehension
- An Interesting Approach to Reducing the United States Trade Deficit GMAT Reading Comprehension
- Three Basic Adaptive Responses Regulatory Acclimatory and Developmental GMAT Reading Comprehension
- Scientifically Speaking Human Biology isnt more or Less Complex GMAT Reading Comprehension
- A Cyclone Which can Cover an Area of Thousands of Square Miles GMAT Reading Comprehension
- It Is Impossible To Describe The Arts In The United States GMAT Reading Comprehension
- Gastrostomy Tubes Are Commonly Used To Provide Nutrition And Hydration GMAT Reading Comprehension
- The Racial Identity of South Asians has Long been a Subject of Some Controversy GMAT Reading Comprehension
- Economists have Defined Four Stages Societies Pass through Based on Demographics GMAT Reading Comprehension
- According to the United Nations the Total Fertility Rate the Number of Children GMAT Reading Comprehension
- Woodrow Wilson Was Referring To The Liberal Idea Of The Economic Market GMAT Reading Comprehension
- On May 5th 1997 the European Edition of Business Tech Magazine Led with Hoffmans GMAT Reading Comprehenison
- For Some Years Before the Outbreak of World War I GMAT Reading Comprehension
- Alexander Calder Was One Of The Most Innovative GMAT Reading Comprehension
- A Conventional View of Nineteenth Century Britain Holds that Iron GMAT Reading Comprehension
- There is Much Talk of a Hydrogen Economy and One Version of that Future GMAT Reading Comprehension
- Juror Anonymity was Unknown to American Common Law and Jurisprudence GMAT Reading Comprehension
- Most Educated People of the Eighteenth Century such as the Founding Fathers GMAT Reading Comprehension
- There Is A Dangerous Tendency In Superficial Analyses GMAT Reading Comprehension
- My Objective Is To Analyze Certain Forms Of Knowledge GMAT Reading Comprehension
- In Eighteenth Century France and England Reformers Rallied Around GMAT Reading Comprehension
- During The Final Decades Of The Nineteenth Century GMAT Reading Comprehension
- There are Other Environmental Problems Connected With Offshore Oil Besides Oil Pollution GMAT Reading Comprehension
- The Use of Heat Pumps has been Held Back Largely by Skepticism About Advertisers GMAT Reading Comprehension
GMAT Reading Comprehension Practice Papers
In order to ace their GMAT Reading Comprehension and achieve a higher GMAT Score, it is important for candidates to undertake that GMAT Reading Comprehension Practice. GMAT RC practice is important for candidates to enhance their abilities in successfully attempting the GMAT RC passages. With the help of the 1000 GMAT RC practice papers it is possible for the candidates to actively prepare for the exam.
A few GMAT reading comprehension practice free PDFs are given provided below:
| GMAT RC Practice Test 1 | GMAT RC Practice Test 2 |
| GMAT RC Practice Test 3 | GMAT RC Practice Test 4 |
| GMAT RC Practice Test 5 | GMAT RC Practice Test 6 |
The way to make the most possible improvement in GMAT Reading Comprehension is to use these categories. You can use them to recognize and break down the sources of your current errors and try to continually address those issues. Above all, the most important strategy for approaching the passages is to always read with the main idea in mind. Whether the author is making an argument or simply laying out information, there will always be a main idea that governs the passage’s content and organization. You should use GMAT Practice papers to improve your chances of a much higher score.
Also Read
FAQs
Ques. What is the Reading Comprehension section of the GMAT test?
Ans. The Reading Comprehension section assesses your ability to understand words and statements, logical relationships, and your ability to conclude, or whether you can get the main idea of the passage.
Ques. How many passages are there in the Reading Comprehension section?
Ans. You will get three to four passages in the Reading Comprehension section, each followed by a set of related questions. Most passages are followed by 2 to 4 questions.
Ques. Are the passages in the Reading Comprehension section focused on specific topics or subjects?
Ans. The topics that cover the reading passages are business, social science, and history. Mainly, you get passages from these three fields of study.
Ques. What is the best way to manage time effectively in the Reading Comprehension section?
Ans. You should give around 2–3 minutes to skim through each passage and then give the majority of your time to answering the associated questions thoughtfully.
Ques. What types of questions can I expect after reading each passage in the Reading Comprehension section?
Ans. The 4 most common types of questions generally come in the reading section: main idea, tone of the passage, drawing inferences, and factual questions.
Ques. Is it necessary to thoroughly read the entire passage before attempting the questions?
Ans. It is essential to skim the passage to get its main idea and structure, underline the keywords while skimming the passage, and answer relevantly.
Ques. What are some effective strategies for attempting the Reading Comprehension questions?
Ans. A few of the strategies include identifying the main idea of the passage, comprehending the author's perspective, and underlining the answers and important lines while reading the passages.
Ques. How can I improve my skills in Reading Comprehension?
Ans. Regular practice with different types of passages, analyzing different question types, and practicing critical reading abilities can significantly improve your performance in the Reading Comprehension section.
Ques. What should I do if I find a challenging passage or question?
Ans. If you find any of the questions in the passage difficult to answer, then you should not waste your time thinking about that one particular question; instead, go ahead with the next question and save some time for the tough questions to think.
Ques. Should I prioritize certain question types over others in the Reading Comprehension section?
Ans. While answering all questions is essential, you should always be prepared to answer different types of questions.
Ques. Are there any common mistakes that I should avoid in the Reading Comprehension section?
Ans. You should avoid making assumptions or relying on external knowledge not provided in the passage. Do not read the passage just once.
Ques. What is the best approach for reviewing Reading Comprehension passages and questions?
Ans. After completing the section, review both correct and incorrect answers to identify strengths and areas for improvement. Look for patterns in mistakes to adjust your strategies accordingly
*The article might have information for the previous academic years, which will be updated soon subject to the notification issued by the University/College.
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